Population & Settlements
One of the earliest settlers in France was during the late Old Stone Age. Archaeologist found signs through drawings from the caves of Font-de-Gaume. As well as fossils, bones and other artifacts that showed signs of the earliest settlers. In the corner of France next to the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean is a village called Tautavel. The village consisted of a small community and was about thirty kilometers from Perpignan. The inhabitants living in this area would stay in this large cavern called the Caune de L’Arago. This cavern provided shelter for the community during the cold period 350,000 years ago (B.P.). The explorer in charge was called Monsieur Henry de Lumley and he found bones of many different animals. For instance, bison, archaic horse, wolf, and rhinoceroses. They also found human bones like, teeth, jawbones, hipbones, and a foot bone. They also found some of a skull bone which is one of the oldest skulls found in Europe. They discovered that the bone was of a twenty year old male and they called him the “Argo Man”. Since the skull was of a man and it was found in Argo, France. In Nice, France there is a cave in the Lazaret quarter where there was habitation in a different period. About 130,000, they used dwelling inside of this cave and around the front of the cave was a big hut constructed. The roof of the hut was used by animal skins. They set up different boundaries using large rocks. There was clay found in the grounds that they were able to use to make tools. They slept in sea grasses that were covered in animal furs. The climate was cold since they were in higher elevation in the Maritime Alp’s. They had plenty of food resources. They could hunt for deer’s in the nearby forest as well as wolf, fox, panthers, and lynx. These animals provided them with meals, but as well with clothing since they would use the furs for various things. In the 15th -16th century the French began to explore as well as establish forts and settlements that become city’s that are in France today. The French came as new explorers trying to seek a route to the Pacific Ocean and wealth. Francis I, the king of France during this period of time sent Giovanni da Verranzo in 1524, to look through the region between Florida and Newfoundland. Between these two he found a route to the Pacific Ocean. He found land between New Spain and English Newfoundland which the French were interested in. In 1534, Francis I, sent Jacques Cartier with two ships and sixty-one men looking for a passage linking the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean. They explore the coast of the Newfoundland and Cartier discovers the St Lawrence River which he hopes it to be the mouth of a channel leading through the continent. After this discovery Cartier cancels his exploration until the next summer and returns to France. Cartier claims the whole region for King Francis I, under New France. Second trip is in 1535, where Cartier sails his boat to this island taken over by Huron Indians. They welcomed him to the highest point of the island. He name it Mont Réal which is Mont Royal. Cartier took his third trip in 1541, with 400 settlers and tried to create a settlement at Cap-Rouge also known as Quebec City know today. The settlement was abandoned, due to bad weather, diseases, and an attack. The New France was founded by Samuel Champlain another French explorer. In 1608, he founded Quebec and worked on the French Fur trade with help from the Huron Indians. The Fur trade did not make any progress. Samuel Champlain passed away in 1635, and there were only about one hundred settlers in Quebec. In 1627, Richelieu forms, the company of New France which had around one hundred members. They pledged to have at least two hundred settlers to the colony each year, unfortunately this was never reached. In 1660, the remaining settlers ask Louis XIV, the King of France during this time for helped. He approached this problem by turning New France into a royal province. This was going to be ruled by the governor with educational, religious, and military support resourced by France. This new change increased the settlement drastically. During the 1600’s, there were more than three thousand people being sent out. This time period was a turning point for New France and the population was able to increase. Overall, France population kept growing through periods of time. Currently in 2014, France has 63.38 million people. After researching Frances population and settlements I do believe that it supports the theory of why people of certain continents succeeded in invading or conquering other continents from Guns, Germs, and Steel book written by Jared Diamond. In the Old Stone Age in France they settle there in Argo because they had shelter and animals. They used the animals for food, clothing, and other resources to survive. Obstacle they had to face was the cold climate. During the 1600’s as well the bad weather and people getting diseases where they would not survive. They were not successful with their settlements in the beginning. Until they received help from Louis XIV. Having resources to survive and someone who has leadership can make a country of certain continents become successful in conquering. References: The First Settlers in France | Bone and Stone. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2015, from http://www.boneandstone.com/articles/rohrer_09.html HISTORY OF FRENCH COLONIAL AMERICA. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2015, from http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa82 Population Pyramids
|
Maps
APA Citation: Climate map of France. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://about-france.com/geo/climate-map.htm APA Citation: New Boston Historical Society. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.newbostonhistoricalsociety.com/cannon.html
Other Internet Resources :
1. This website shows the Census of the Early French Settlements from 1605-1691. It gives you a better understanding of the population in France during the 1600's. It takes you through the different years and different cities in France. It also shows how much settlers were there at the time. It is being recommended because interesting to see the first colonies to become successful in France. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/98-187-x/4064812-eng.htm 2. This website gives you a better understanding of who Samuel de Champlin is. It gives you a Biography about him and a short video explaining his contributions to France and Canada. It is being recommended because he plays a big role in the French settlement and was the founder of New France. It shows the importance of what he left behind. http://www.biography.com/people/samuel-de-champlain-9243971 |
From the year 1980 to 2015 the population in France has increased by 10,041,000 people. That is a a quite few people that populated France. During these two time periods it really is not a drastic change. French families are not a big usually on average they have two to one child. The fertility rate in France in 2013 is about 2 children per woman.